If there’s a drawback to being a dog-agility enthusiast, it’s that there really isn’t much online information available on the subject. Surf the internet and you’ll find a few sales pitches, a couple magazines, some organizations, but few answers to specific questions.

One of the most important questions you should ask as a dog agility trainer is, “what type of flooring should I use to train my dogs?”

Before we answer that, let’s look at those flooring options that are NOT great for the sport.

1.) Rubber. Perhaps the biggest misconception out there is that rubber (rolled or interlocking tiles) provides some sort of spongy, super surface that provides great traction while also providing comfort for animals and trainers alike. This notion is false. Rubber, while a great surface for protecting floors from heavy equipment like treadmills or weight benches, does not provide much fatigue relief at all. In fact, a rolled rubber floor isn’t much softer than the concrete floor it covers. And while rubber may be easy to clean (usually a damp mop will do the trick) it is NOT waterproof. Also, because most rubber floor products come in black (they are made from recycled tires) they show dirt immediately. In short, rubber has it’s place but that place is generally not in a dog training facility.

2.) Vinyl/Plastic. Another seemingly great choice for flooring your training facility would be vinyl or plastic. It’s waterproof, easy to clean, it looks nice…However, like rubber it is generally an unforgiving surface. Products made of these materials are also often slippery making for a treacherous area for both trainer and dogs. Slippery = no good for training dogs.

3.) Carpet/hardwood. These products get destroyed quickly by animals and are a nightmare to keep clean. Enough said.

Believe it or not, the best flooring for dog agility training is foam. Not just any foam, of course. Kids mats from the local box store will be shredded in no time. However, dense EVA foam that is designed specifically for dog training provides everything you’re looking for for your facility. It is waterproof and easy to keep clean. A high-traction, commercial grade carpet top provides excellent traction and is resistant to dog claws. Superficial scratching and tears will happen, to be sure. But the quality and performance of the floor will remain unaffected for years. Dog Agility mats are simple to install. Puzzle tiles that simply piece together, they require no adhesives. For a wall-to-wall installation, you simply cut them to fit with a sharp utility knife. Also, if one tile gets damaged, you can simply replace it and carry on. Not so easy with a roll of rubber or hardwood floor.

Greatmats provides an easy-to-use online room designer that allows customers to create their room layout to scale and to determine the number of floor tiles they will need for their area by simply typing in the dimensions.

About Greatmats: Headquartered in Milltown, WI, Greatmats is a leading online dealer of residential and commercial specialty flooring options. Greatmats is 100% solar powered and has been named one of Inc magazines top 500 fastest growing sites three years in a row. They hold a Triple-A rating with the Better Business Bureau. For further information, contact Greatmats at 877-822-6622 or visit http://www.greatmats.com.

Your pet is one in all your most precious companions. If you actually love your pet, then you ought to take your pet for Dog Training. Additionally to veterinary care, shelter and food, you want to conjointly give your dog with correct coaching in obedience. The dog training categories are essential for coaching your dog within the right behavioral patterns. There are varied forms of dog training equipment that you’ll avail of within the market.

Different forms of coaching Equipment For Dog’s

Once you’ve got set to supply your dog with dog training categories, you want to set regarding acquiring the equipment which is able to assist you to coach your dogs. There are many alternative manufactures who manufacture wonderful dog training equipment. you’ll notice it quite straightforward to seek out the proper tools for training your dog.

Full Body Bite Suits – These are alive for several years currently. they’re principally utilized by the k-9 police units all round the world. These suits are currently on the market to shoppers. you’ll notice these suites in numerous varieties of sizes and materials. Such body suits can enable you to coach your dog to attack intruders in an exceedingly manner that’s safe each for yourself and your dog.

Bite Sleeves – you’ll wear these on your arms for coaching puppies still as medium and little sized dogs a way to bite. These sleeves are typically product of a sturdy and soft material and internal support handles. These internal support handles can assist you to coach your dog terribly comfortably and conjointly over a protracted amount of your time. once you are shopping for bite sleeves, you ought to purchase those who are certified by the yank Humane Association and that go with their tips for dog training in an exceedingly humane manner.

Dog Treats – The dog treats are by so much the foremost effective dog obedience coaching equipment throughout dog training categories. Such equipment isn’t solely tried and tested however is additionally terribly price effective. you’ll notice dog treats within the market in varied completely different forms of flavors. The flavors of the dog treats, vary from exotic to plain. you’ll use the dog treats for rewarding your dog when its successful completion of a task. If you reward your dog with a dog treat, then your dog can feel motivated to perform higher. you’ll avail of dog treats in precisely regarding any pet store.

Jump Sticks And Hurdles – The jump sticks and hurdles are glorious coaching equipment when it involves coaching you dogs in numerous dog training tricks. The jump sticks and hurdles enable you to coach your pet to run through varied forms of obstacle courses and different dog training tricks. The hurdles are made up of vinyl and lightweight weight plastic materials.

Thus there are varied forms of effective dog coaching equipment that you simply will use in your dog training categories. you’ll acquire dog training provides from most departmental stores. There also are websites that sell dog coaching provides at a reduced rate.

If you would like to instruct your dog to run on a dog business, you pauperization to secure you hit trained it extensively so that it is fit to use the treadwheel on a regularised foundation without the need for persisting reinforcement.

In tell to drag a dog to use dog treadmills, you should canvas these soft steps:

Archetypal, yield your pet measure to accustom itself to the job by allowing it to explore it when the line is both on and off. Every clip your pet goes fireman to the treadwheel and does not act aquaphobic, be careful and teach it with either kudos or a cater, so that it associates the occupation with confirming things.

After your pet is utilized to the dog treadmill, you impoverishment it to finger comfy unfelled on the line as good. It is foremost to vantage by possession the dog line upset off. Wind your dog on top of the job (use a tie if you equivalent) and piece it is unfelled on the business be sure and fortify it oft by sharing it both commendation and treats (if you use a clicker, utter only when the dog is upright comfortably on the line – if it appears nervous, try to act).

Formerly your dog is comfortably on the dog treadmill, it is experience to turn it on for the freshman example. Ever line at the infrangible slowest rate realizable. Your dog may be frightened at archetypal, and if it shows dread you require to think these two things:

Do not reinforce the prise by performing very worried and hugging your dog directly. This instrument exclusive blackbeard it that the prise was warranted. If you stay console, your dog will rest composed.
Do not approach your dog okay onto the job either. Instead, speak to fortify your dog with congratulations and treats whenever it is doing anything certain on the occupation.

When your dog is eventually locomotion on the business for a patch, do not represent it locomotion for too stressed. Although it may smooth be enjoying the accomplishment, it is someone not to attempt any express or tiredness hand absent, which could drive the dog to cogitate the dog treadmill with dismissive feelings. Instead, hold to kudos and create treats and, after almost 5 to 10 minutes, favor the line off and forecast your dog to breathe day, hap the transmute again. And again, use exclusive the slowest movement, except this time you present want to increase the abstraction the dog spends on the business. Stable approval and treats are soothe obligatory, and if your dog shows any signs of effort too footsore, it is okay to knob the treadwheel and try again the incoming day. Notwithstanding, if your dog appears dismayed, the equal rules allay deal – do not instantly crumble off the dog occupation, otherwise the dog again risks associating the business with fright. Try to whatsoever effectuation travel on the mill for a piece it is alright to swiftness it up. Again, unbroken commendation and treats, and not too allegro. Any alter you get on the mill, alter if your dog appears to be enjoying it should always be done in degree to forbid any awe.

Once your dog has been using the dog job successfully you are willing to appropriate your dog to retard on the line for a yearn phase of example at any hurry you necessary. Try to dungeon the velocity imbibe while your dog is gaining capability, but erst you screw your pet has the powerfulness to defense for a extendable period you are prepared to accept your dog regular workout on the dog job.

Dog treadmills are a high way to cell your dog paradisal, intelligent and fit. If you right learn your dog to use the treadwheel, you can be trusty it will see the use for life to grow.
 

Dogs that Chew are Either Bored or Just Being Distructive

Wrong!

Wrong! What do you do when you are bored and by yourself? Play computer games, watch TV, read? Dogs tend to chew, although the importance of chewing for a dog, is far more important to maintaining healthy teeth and gums than playing computer games is to maintaining our teeth and gums!

Just as your baby or toddler suffers from painful gums when teething, so do puppies, and there are special chew toys available for your puppy which can help relieve their painful gums.

Dogs are more than capable of learning what is, and what is not, ok for them to chew on once they have been trained properly. To help encourage the “right” sort of chewing, there are four steps you can take to help this:

1. Prevention: Prevention is always the best cure and new dog owners should always endeavour to turn their home into a “dog-proof” zone, at least until your dog has learned what it can, and cannot chew.

2. Stop It In Its Tracks: If you are at home with your dog when it starts to chew on anything it is important that you train it the commands for “drop” or “leave it”. You must give either of these commands whenever you see them start to chew on anything they should not be chewing on. If you have inadvertently left, or added, something in your home (from example in number 1) you must remove this item to help set up a situation where they can differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate behaviour. Either of these commands will also help if you are out with your dog and they decide they want to pick up something which is either just disgusting, or inappropriate.

3. Change Your Dog’s Focus: This is when you start to teach your dog which toys are theirs, and which they are perfectly entitled to chew to bits if they want to, and which items they really shouldn’t be chewing on.

4. What a Good Dog You Are: Praise is such an overlooked part of training. Your dog wants to please you and will, more than likely grow out of the chewing phase but if it does continue, it may well be a sign of something else, perhaps nervous energy, which is simply down to lack of exercise.

Forgive me if I reminisce a little!

The other day I heard a song that I’d not heard for ages. It took me back a few years, I can tell you!

And while I was mentally reliving years gone by, I realised how relevant this song still is to us all today! Some things just never change!

I’m talking about a song called ‘I Whistle a Happy Tune’, written by the brilliant Rodgers & Hammerstein and sung by the British governess Mrs Anna Leonowens in the hit musical ‘The King And I’. The musical was based on the true experiences of Anna and this song explains how she dealt with her private fears when she found herself in new and strange surroundings.

She taught these techniques to her young son  –  and now I’m explaining them to you!

This is a song that was copyrighted way back in 1951 but, take a look at the lyrics below and you’ll see that it’s aimed well and truly at all of us anxiety sufferers!

See what you think:

Whenever I feel afraid, I hold my head erect,

And whistle a happy tune so no one will suspect I’m afraid.

While shivering in my shoes, I strike a careless pose

And whistle a happy tune and no one ever knows I’m afraid.

The result of this deception is very strange to tell,

For when I fool the people I fear,

I fool myself as well!

I whistle a happy tune and every single time,

The happiness in the tune convinces me that I’m not afraid.

Make believe you’re brave and the trick will take you far.

You may be as brave as you make believe you are!

©Rodgers & Hammerstein 1951

This could have been written especially for you!!

It sums up exactly what I’m always telling anxiety sufferers:

• That if you behave as if you are confident (even if you don’t feel it inside) then you’ll trick your brain into believing you really ARE confident.

• That your body language is important to the way you feel and how people treat you. Stand tall (‘hold my head erect’) and be counted!

• That if you use distraction techniques (the whistling of a tune or such like) you’ll take your mind off any scary thoughts you may be having.

• That people can’t always tell you’re feeling anxious even if you’re convinced they can.

• That appearances can be deceptive (striking the ‘careless pose’). Look cool and collected and that’s how people will see you.

• That positive happy thoughts (‘the happiness in the tune’) can usually override negative ones and help to reduce your anxiety levels.

• That always having a ‘little trick’ in reserve (like whistling a happy tune, for example, even if it’s just silently in your head!) is an excellent stand by to have for those times when you need some extra help.

And we all know what a difference any of the above things can make to help you in anxious situations!

Have a think about how you deal with scary situations. Do you have a ‘happy tune’ you can call upon? If not, maybe you might find it helpful. Who knows, maybe you might find that actually it’s THIS song that stays in your head, ready for when you need it most!

Good luck, and happy whistling!

There are many type of dog training and many objectives, from basic obedience training to specialized areas including police dog, search and rescue, assistance to people with disabilities and entertainment.

Basic Obedience
This is the fundamental type of training in dogs and all dogs must have some form of obedience training. Basic obedience training makes life simple to your dog and eliminates confusion. Your dog will know his place in the world and understand right from wrong. Dogs seem to really appreciate and thrive on this black and white view of the world.

Entertainment
This form of training capitalizes on tricks to please an audience. They are excellent in resisting distractions coming from various people and even the environment. Some of the tricks being taught are standing, heeling, and moving objects. Training dog for show is hard work, but a lot of fun.

Police Dog
Police dogs were first used in 1899 by the Belgian police force. They serve and protect our communities’ daily, performing skills like protection, narcotics locating, and tracking criminal or missing persons. It takes special dogs and very special trainers to create productive policing teams. This is achieved through intensive and careful training.

Assistance to People with Disabilities
Many people who are blind, handicapped, or those with medical conditions take on the task of training their own assistance dogs. For some, this is the best option, because the dog can be trained to mitigate a disability specific to that particular person. Assistance dog training is quite expensive especially if one prefers a professionally trained and certified pet. One may also opt to take on the task of training them though.

Search and Rescue
A search and rescue dog is trained to locate that scent and help their handlers find people who are lost or missing. With great senses of smell, these types of dog find missing people through air scenting. This simply means tracking down people through their smell by sniffing through the air. Ground smelling may also be used.

Dog training videos and DVDs are becoming a favourite, easy way of learning how to train your dog.  Dog training classes and private dog trainers are pricey, so more people are now finding it less demanding to download dog training videos which they can watch at their own tempo and in the comfort of their own home, on the move on their laptop or listen to dog training books that are on audio.

In an ideal world where cash and time are not an issue my first option for training my dog would be a series of classes with a well-known  professional dog trainer but like many people I simply cannot stretch to afford this.  We all want the best training for our dogs though and there are many other excellent solutions available.

Cesar Millan is a household name now and you can buy his dog training DVD course for just over $ 130 which is quite affordable but there are further costs, such as the Illusion collar you need to buy for your dog to follow Cesar’s dog training video course.  The collar is around $ 40.  A great option though.

Dog training DVD courses have been proven to work better than just reading a book as you can actually watch the dog trainer in action, hearing how the voice is used to give commands and secondly seeing the body language which should be used.  Your dog watches you constantly and hears you second.

It was these advantages to dog training videos that prompted me to find out more information online with a view to finding a good dog training DVD course by a professional dog trainer.  I was quite surprised that most reviews online were for mainly ebooks with maybe just a short video included and most reviews I came across were written by people who had clearly never been near a dog and neither were the dog training videos or books written by a proper dog trainer!

I finally found a dog training DVD course through going into dog forums where I was given a personal recommendation from someone who had been using a dog training DVD course by a well-known professional dog trainer for 6 months and she had rescued her dog who sadly had been abused and needed to regain trust with people, which he did with the help of the training and of course, love and care.

Some research online about the dog trainer himself was very positive so I downloaded this Dog training DVD course – written by a long standing British professional dog trainer.  There are 21 dog training videos, and over five hours of an audio book which is also supplied as an ebook to print and download.  I also receive a newsletter regularly (plus all the previous newsletters) and can contact the trainer personally should I ever need.  The videos are of the professional dog trainer with real dogs and the method of training does not involve harming your dog or require any special, pricey equipment.

I was happy with the price of $ 59 for this complete dog training DVD course which covers everything from preparing to bring your pup home, house training and ongoing training covering each stage of your dog’s life.  Common dog obedience problems are also addressed in depth.  These simple dog training videos helped me sort out my jealous little westie’s naughtiness!